A visit from the MLA that represents Bashaw didn’t really achieve any of the results town council had been hoping for.
Jackie Lovely, MLA for Camrose, appeared at council’s meeting on Jan. 16 at their request in order to hear some concerns and answer some questions.
Specifically, council was hoping to hear some answers about how the small community is supposed to deal with increasing costs — such as infrastructure and policing — with looming cuts to grants and the downloading of other costs to municipalities.
Coun. Rob McDonald, who originally requested the visit back in December, had a number of concerns that he wanted to see addressed.
“It’s all wrapped up together. The crime initiatives are really going to help, but one of my concerns is the police funding initiative along with cuts to MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative),” he said.
“Where do we cut to pay for it?”
McDonald added he wasn’t impressed with some comments made when the province announced the changes to how policing is paid for in Alberta.
“One comment that the Premier made that I found incredibly insulting was when he said small towns are not paying for policing. We pay taxes. We are the only taxpayer,” he said, referring to when towns under 5,000 people weren’t required to pay though residents still do through provincial taxes.
“True, the Town of Bashaw doesn’t write a cheque for policing costs, but it gets its funding from the taxpayers and that’s us and we are paying for it. Nor does Bashaw have the revenue streams that larger communities do, so like I said, where do we cut to pay for it?”
Lovely didn’t have any answers, despite being provided the issues council were wanting to discuss when the invitation to meet was sent by administration. Although she suggested meeting with Municipal Affairs minister Kaycee Madu to discuss these issues.
“What would be helpful is possibly a meeting with Minister Madu,” Lovely said, adding having a meeting in Edmonton could be arranged and that she would gladly attend as well.
“Let’s get that meeting because he has let MLAs know that if there are any communities that are struggling, that he would be more than happy to meet with them.”
The other question McDonald asked was about when will Bashaw see a bill for police costs — right away or when the detachment actually gets a new officer — considering the MLA mentioned that the RCMP’s central Alberta district is slated to get 11 new officers as part of the province’s rural crime strategy.
Lovely didn’t know, but asked to have that question emailed to her in order to track down that answer. She also wasn’t certain if Bashaw would be getting any of those new positions.
“I’m just worried there are more and more small municipalities that are folding, and in our case, if our taxation gets so high who would want to move here?” said Coun. Lynn Schultz.
“With MSI going and now policing costs, we look at our budget down the road, it’s crazy.”
Toss in the higher costs for the regional water line, added McDonald, and it’s becoming far more expensive to live in smaller rural communities.
As of press time, it wasn’t known when the meeting with the Municipal Affairs minister will take place.